Propulsion wheel



Oct. 7, 1952 KNlPPlNG 4 2,612,957

PROPULSION WHEEL.

Filed Feb. 24, 1948 fim K.

ATTORNEYS Patented Oct 7, 1 952 UNITED, STATES PATENT ,OFFICE PROPULSION WHEEL Rainer H. Knipping, San Antonio, Application February 24, 1948, Serial No. 1033f] (01. 170-442) i i v2 Claims.

The. invention relates to, a propeller wheel and in particular to an improved paddle wheel construction for propelling vessels.

In the power wheel construction heretofore used, one of the primary objects is that the type wheel employed causes considerable vibration due to the straight" type of blade or bucket employed. Additionally, the disk type wheel is highly inefficient and very little of the power transmitted thereto is used in propelling the vessel.

An object ofthe present invention, therefore, is to overcome the above mentioned difficulties.

Another object. of the invention is'to provide apropulsion wheel which has a plurality of propulsion elements thereon arranged to enter the water without undue shock being transmitted to the propulsion wheel.

Another object of the invention'is to provide in a propulsion wheel, the propulsion of elements which are designed to more or less trapthe water within such elements, so that" the resistance of the water to the movement of the propulsion elements therethrough is increased, whereby a more eflicient wheel is attained.

Another object of the invention is to provide a discharge port in each of a plurality of propulsion elements arranged on a propulsion wheel so that water trapped therein during the power stroke of such elements can be released as the elements leave the water.

A further object of the invention is to provide a propulsion wheel which is highly efficient and which can be used to propel the vessel in either a forward or backward direction.

It is a still further object of this invention to rangement of the propulsion-elements upon the provide a propulsion wheel having a plurality of Other and further objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from a consideration of the following .description and drawing wherein:

Fig. l is an end view of a construction in accordance with the invention taken on the line i -l of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view showing the arwheel or drum;

Fig. 3 is a perspective viewmore clearly illustrating the arrangement of the propulsion unit;

and s Fig. 4 isan enlarged detail of the flow port formed at the convergence of two adjacent plates in one of the rows of the propulsion elements.

In Fig. l a propulsionwheel isillustrated at'2 and is shown as comprising a cylindrical drum 3 which has the axle 4 secured thereto. The drum 3 may or may not have itsends 5 closed and such ends are preferably'closed so thatthedrum will be buoyant when immersed in the water and water will not ride on the inner periphery as in the case wherethe wheel is open at the ends to allow water to pass therethrough. A plurality of rows is of plates 9 combine'with the drum periphery l in forming the propulsion unit 6. These plates 9 upstand outwardly from the pe riphery 1 a suitable distance," depending upon the size of the vessel and the exact specification or performance desired from the propulsion wheelZ. 5

The propulsion wheel is arranged to be secured to a vessel at either the stern or in the center or on the side. Any suitable power transmission means can be'conn'ected to the axle 4 to impart rotation to the wheel.

The plates 9 of each rowlS are axially aligned on the drum and alternate plates are slanted at oppositely extending, substantially, equal angles with respect to a transverse plane through the drurriaxis. The propulsion elements or buckets which are formed by the plates Bare secured to the drum by any suitable means, such as a weld or the like.

The plates 9 are arranged on the drumso that two adjacent plates form incross-section two of the sides of substantially an equilateral triangle, the base side being represented by the dotted line [0.1 Each two adjacent'plates 8 of arow 6 combine in comprising a bucket B, and the divergingends ofthese two adjacent plates 9 have thereinbetween the, opening. H, while theconverging ends l Bprovide the substantially smaller opening orflow port l2 through which water may be dischargedas the drum portion containing this "row {B'rotates .out of the water.

As more clearly shown in Fig. 4, the flow or escape port I2 is formed by the flanges I3 on the ends of the plates 9. Such flanges are spaced a short distance apart to provide the flow passage l2 which extends for substantially the length of the radially extending edges l4 of the plates 9. Any suitable means. such as the strap 15, can extend between the adjacent flanges l3, and be secured thereto, in order to brace and rigidify the propulsion wheel.

By arranging the plates 9, as hereinabove described, to form the propulsion element 6, the wheel can be used to propel the vessel in either a forward or rearward direction, since a plurality of threeesided buckets 8 are provided. As shown most clearly in Fig. 2, the plate surfaces 20 and 20' of two adjacent plates 9 combine with the drum periphery 'l to define one such threesided bucket, while the surface 2| opposite the surface 20' and the surfacec 22 of the next successive plate 9 combine with the drumperiphery to define an adjacent three-sided bucket 8,. It follows as a result of this construction that the adjacent ports 12 in any row are provided.

to discharge in opposite directions.

As the wheel is rotated, the rows 19 of buckets 3 successively enter the water with a minimum of resistance and so as to :entrap water within the bucket while creating a minimum of vibration in the propulsion wheel 2. Since the ports 12 are much smaller :in cross sectional area than the openings ll between the diverging ends .of two adjacent plates 9, the water will .be more or less constricted between the plates 9. This increases the resistance of the water to the movement :of the plates therethrough. so that in effect, the wheel thrusts the vessel in the direction that it is moving.

The water will remainconstricted or vtrapped between the plates 9 for a greater portion of the arc of travel'through the water. As the buckets continue to move upwardly andout of the water, the trapped water within the buckets will fall outwardly and will also be discharged through the flow ports l2.

Water drag on the paddle is, therefore, eliminated and energy heretofore used in lifting the water on the side where the rows [9 emerge, can now be diverted to a useful form of work.

The construction and arrangement of the plates 9 to form the rows [9 included in the propulsion element 6 is such that the how of water therebetween is directed and controlled and it is to be additionally noted that a far greater-surface area is presented to the water as the rows I9 travel successively therethrough. in this manner, itis possible to have a smaller wheel While at the same time doing a proportionate larger amount of work.

The construction of the plates andtheir .arrangement on the wheel is such that they areall braced together and the whole afiords as'turdy construction which is well adapted for the work for which it is intended.

It seems obvious that the size of the buckets I formed .by the plates 9 in combination with the drum periphery 1 and the size of the passages l2, can be varied to meet the requirement of capacity, load, and other such factors, in the design of the wheel.

Broadly the invention contemplates ,a 'propule sion wheel and in particular. an improved propulsion wheel, which has a plurality of rows of buckets arranged in a propulsion 'unit so that a minimum of resistance is offered as the rows of buckets enter the water, but a meximum amount of resistance is created between the buckets and the water in order to obtain useful a work from the buckets to propel the vessel.

What is claimed is: 1. A propulsion wheel including, a drum having closed ends, an axle extending from said ends,

a plurality of rows of buckets on said drum and form two sides of a triangle, the converging ends of said plates being separated to provide a small opening thereinbetween, the base of the triangle being completed by the distance across the opening between the diverging edges, the rotation of the drum entrapping water in the buckets of eaeh .rpw as that row enters the water. and the small openings providing escape ports for the water trapped within the buckets as further roe tation .moves that portion of the drum .out of the swath?- r 2- A prhhu sien wheel i c udin a drlum having-closed ends, an axle extending fromsaldends, a plurality of rowsof buckets on .s'aiddrumand extending axially thereof, each .of said rows of buckets includinga plurality .of plates upstanding fr m he P iphery 5 the d u i h the l e ate .ip th in each .m da ed at pos tely ex ndin subs antia ly e al ngl fr m a .p a transvrseto the dr-umaxis so that two adjacent plates comprise a bucket and in cross-section form two sides .of a trian le, the converging ends of said plates being separated to provide a small opening thereinbetween, th base of the triangle being completed-by the distance er es the e n t n e d er n ed es, the rotation of the drum .entrapping water in the buckets of each row as that row enters the ate a th ma l n n r vid ng escape ports for the water trapped within the buckets as further rotation moves that portion of the d ou f th at the e m nal ort q s i h on er i ends bein f anged and tied together outwardly by anaxially exten in Strap member.

RAINER H. K IPBING- eEEhRsNess CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent; 

